Complaint: A viewer complained that the program included without warning an image of the bodies of a man and his young daughter who drowned trying to cross the border from Mexico into the United States.

May

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener complained about the inclusion of strong coarse language in an episode which focused on the rise of the alt-right in Australia and connections between Senator Fraser Anning and fascist groups.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about a special report on the environmental impact of fly ash waste, a by-product of coal fired power stations, including that it lacked balance and that no part of a statement provided by Cement Concretes and Aggregates Australia (CCAA) was included in the report.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about the inclusion in a report of graphic footage of violent behaviour amongst school students. One of the viewers also complained that the warning provided was inadequate.

April

Complaint: A complaint was received which raised concerns with two episodes of RN Saturday Extra that discussed water management. In the first program, two visiting Israeli water experts made comments about the Israeli National Water Carrier and the importance of water to Israel’s national security. In the second program, another guest with expertise in the water crisis in Palestine was interviewed. The complaint included concern that the programs failed to present the key historical and political framework and issues which led to biased and inaccurate information being presented.

Complaint: An ABC News Channel viewer noted that a sports report incorrectly stated that the Sydney Kings were top of the National Basketball League ladder whereas the Perth Wildcats were actually top of the ladder.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about an interview on ABC Central Coast Breakfast with the Campaigns Director of the NSW Nature Conservation Council. The complainant said that the presenter dominated the interview and used it to promote his own views rather than explore those of the interviewee.

Complaint: Two complainants raised serious concerns regarding specific issues of accuracy and a lack of impartiality in a three part Background Briefing series on the Murray Darling Basin Plan and an associated Facebook video post. The complainants claimed that the series and video unduly favoured the views of critics of the Basin Plan, particularly in relation to the effectiveness of infrastructure subsidy schemes for the recovery of environmental water. A number of factual statements in the programs were disputed by the complainants, who also complained that the coverage lacked material context and key viewpoints.

September

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about an RN Talkfest panel discussion on whether the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) scheme should be extended. The complainant said that the discussion included inaccuracies and presented a one-sided view that was critical of the CDC.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report on a school in Indonesia dedicated to educating children of terrorists inappropriately included footage of a blast caused by a suicide bomber and that the report did not carry a warning.

August

Complaint: A complainant expressed concern that a presenter on ABC Radio Melbourne made offensive comments about the ethnic background of NBN workers during an interview with a representative from NBN Co.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about two AM reports on the Cashless Debit Card trial in Kalgoorlie, including that the Minister responsible was not provided with a fair opportunity to respond.

June

Complaint: The ABC received two complaints that coverage of the date selected for five upcoming federal by-elections inaccurately reported it as a decision made by the Government and the Prime Minister. One complaint was in relation to a 7pm News report broadcast on 25 May, the other additionally identified an edition of Insiders and an online analysis article.

Complaint: A discussion about the day’s events at the Financial Services Royal Commission attracted two complaints that comments made about the educational requirements and regulatory governance of mortgage brokers were misleading.

Complaint: A listener questioned the accuracy of remarks made during an interview with Victorian Energy Minister Lily D'Ambrosio, in which it was reported renewables had generated more electricity than coal for the first time during the summer of 2017-18.

Complaint: Four readers made complaints about an ABC Religion and Ethics opinion piece ‘Usurping the female: Frankenstein and ‘male’ pregnancy’. Readers felt the imagery and language used was offensive towards transgender people.

Complaint: A listener complained that an interview with a union official on ABC Radio Brisbane’s Breakfast program was biased towards the unions and the ALP, and that a segment discussing Barnaby Joyce lacked balance.

Complaint: Two complainants communicated their concerns about the inclusion of Aquinas College, Adelaide, in a story on The Red Zone Report, which detailed sexual violence and hazing at Australian University residential colleges.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about the graphic nature of ABC News Breakfast’s coverage of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, and inadequate warnings about the nature of the content.

March

Complaint: Several complainants raised concerns about a 7.30 story ‘Women report serious side-effects from long-acting contraceptives’ and an ABC News online report ‘Spotlight on Implanon and Mirena long-acting reversible contraceptives, as women report severe side effects’. Concerns included that the reports lacked balance, contained inaccuracies and were misleading.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about an interview on ABC Radio Melbourne Drive with the sister of a cadet journalist who had alleged that she was dismissed by Channel Seven after making a complaint of sexual harassment by a colleague. The concerns related to accuracy and lack of opportunity for the Seven Network to respond.

Complaint: Several triple j listeners complained that the program gave a platform to a white nationalist in interviewing Eli Mosely when covering a protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, and said that the interviewer did not adequately challenge Mr Mosely’s views.

Complaint: Two audience members challenged the accuracy of aspects of a triple j Hack article ‘What about men?: Challenging the MRA claim of a domestic violence conspiracy’. One of the complainants also raised other concerns, including that the article was biased.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report ‘Medical regulator accused of failing to act on complaints’ inaccurately stated that a doctor had sexually abused more than 100 male patients after the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency had been alerted to his behaviour.

Complaint: A viewer complained that an interview with Max Bergmann from the Centre for American Progress was a “one-sided criticism of Donald Trump” and that the presenter failed to disclose the political affiliations of the Centre for American Progress.

April

Complaint: Three online readers complained that an article about a coroner’s findings in a murder case included a photo that was captioned as being the victim and the man who was convicted of her murder when it was in fact the victim and her brother.

Complaint: Several complainants raised concern about the inclusion without warning of graphic footage of animal cruelty in a report about an ongoing live export class action suit before the Federal Court.

Complaint: An ABC Radio Brisbane listener complained that a news report inaccurately stated that two thirds of claims of abuse made to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse related to the Catholic Church.

Complaint: A complainant raised a number of concerns about a 7.00 News story and associated online report on paedophilia allegations against deceased Tattersall’s heir John Flynn. The complainant’s concerns included accuracy, impartiality, fair and honest dealing and privacy.

February

Complaint: An RN listener complained of bias in a segment on the Breakfast program which made reference to Australian Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs’ relationship with the Federal Government.

Complaint: A listener challenged the accuracy of statistics regarding the number of deaths and the responsibility for them during the Columbian conflict in a report ‘Government unprepared for Columbians’ “no” vote on peace deal’.

Complaint: A complainant said that during the 774 ABC Melbourne Breakfast program, the Mornings presenter made uniformed, inaccurate, offensive and defamatory comments. Specifically, the presenter stated: “Immigration Minister Peter Dutton racially vilifies and stereotypes Muslims from Lebanon as all being terrorists and criminals and says that Australia would be better off if they’d never come here…” and “…it’s just extraordinary that you can racially vilify and stereotype a whole group in the community…”

Complaint: An ABC Local Radio listener complained that an interviewee’s background was not adequately disclosed in an interview about differences and similarities between the Bible and Qur’an. The listener also considered the interview to be one-sided.

Complaint: An ABC News 24 viewer complained that a report inaccurately stated that the South Australian Government’s Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission had recommended pursuing the idea of building an intermediate-level nuclear waste dump.

Complaint: A 774 ABC Melbourne listener complained that Andrew Denton advocated a pro-euthanasia position on the program without an opposing view and that Mr Denton had already appeared on the station less than a week earlier to discuss voluntary euthanasia.

Complaint: An RN listener complained that an interview with Senator Stephen Conroy was conducted aggressively and that it included misinformation. The live interview covered a range of topics including the circumstances surrounding Senator Sam Dastyari’s resignation from the Opposition front bench.

Complaint: A complainant raised a number of concerns about a Lateline broadcast ‘Analysing The Australian Paradox: experts speak out about the role of sugar in our diets’ and an ABC News Online report ‘Australian Paradox under fire: Health experts hit out at Sydney Uni sugar study’. The complaint included concerns that the reports were inaccurate, lacked impartiality and misrepresented the conclusion of the research paper The Australian Paradox 2011.

Complaint: The ABC received several complaints about an episode ‘Wi-Fried?’ which investigated whether wireless devices and Wi-Fi could be harmful to health. The complaints alleged a number of inaccuracies and a lack of impartiality. Many of the complaints claimed that the episode failed to present the weight of scientific evidence on the topic and that credible peer reviewed science was ignored in favour of the unorthodox and unsubstantiated view that wireless devices and Wi-Fi pose a significant health risk.

April

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story ‘GST debate: The Government talks up big new tax cuts as it buries plans for a GST hike’ inaccurately stated that all superannuants pay the same flat rate of tax on their earnings.

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener complained that a report about witness testimony before the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse included an inappropriate level of graphic and distressing detail.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about an episode of The World that looked at changes to UK immigration policy, including that it was inaccurate and failed to disclose an interviewee’s political affiliations.

Complaint: A complainant said that a report about the dropping of charges against a person alleged to have been involved in an abduction and rape included an unnecessary and inappropriate level of detail.

March

Complaint: Two viewers questioned the newsworthiness of a story and complained that it inappropriately included graphic footage without warning of a man involved in a hit and run accident in the United Kingdom.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about ABC reporting on the use of the anti malarial drug mefloquine in the ADF, in particular that the ABC chose to air “unsubstantiated allegations without proper acknowledgement of Defence’s position or the scientific evidence available”.

Complaint: An online reader complained that an article ‘The presidential “hopeful” taking on big donations’ inaccurately stated that Bernie Sanders refused support from all Political Action Committees (PACs).

Complaint: An audience member complained that a report ‘Bill Shorten fronts royal commission over questions of union dealings’ inaccurately stated that Cesar Melhem MLC had gone from the Victorian Parliament.

Complaint: PETA complained that the stories were inaccurate and misleading. The stories alleged that the basis of a complaint PETA submitted to the RSPCA was principally about verbal abuse against sheep; when in fact the basis for the complaint was serious physical abuse. Further, PETA complained that this inaccurate coverage continued despite corrections that PETA sent through to ABC Rural on at least three occasions. Following media coverage of this complaint, a further two complaints were received from audience members.

Complaint: An ABC Far North Queensland listener complained about an interview with an academic from James Cook University who questioned the rigour with which certain scientific claims about the health of the Great Barrier Reef are measured and questioned peer-review as a method of testing scientific reports. The complainant said that the interview failed to disclose the academic’s affiliation with various ports authorities.

Complaint: A complainant said that a report was inaccurate and did not support the findings of a Public Sector Commission investigation into the acquisition and use of hospitality resources by Healthway, the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation.

Complaint: Two ABC News Breakfast viewers complained that the news ticker inaccurately summarised a story in stating that a surgeon “stands by her comments female trainees should not report sexual advances”.

January

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns about an interview between the presenter and Dr Bruce Flegg MP who had been cleared of allegations that were investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). The complainant’s concerns were that the interview included inaccuracies and lacked balance and that the CCC was not provided an opportunity to respond to assertions made in the interview.

2014

December

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story inaccurately stated that the Royal Commission into Trade Union Governance and Corruption had issued an interim report, when it was actually a summary of submissions from the counsel assisting the Commissioner.

Complaint: A complainant said that radio and online news stories inaccurately reported that a critic of a city hub proposal for Shellharbour in New South Wales had compared the Shellharbour Mayor to Hitler on Twitter. The complainant also said that the critic’s perspective was not sought or presented.

Complaint: The ABC received several complaints about a two part special ‘The Heart of the Matter’ broadcast on 24 and 31 October 2013. Complainants raised concerns of inaccuracy and believed that in both episodes, one side of two highly contentious issues was unduly favoured: in the first segment, whether the consumption of saturated fats raises cholesterol and causes coronary vascular disease; in the second segment, whether statins are an appropriate treatment in the care of people with elevated blood cholesterol. Complainants also said the program ran the risk of causing harm to viewers who may stop taking statins without seeking medical advice.

Complaint: An audience member complained that News Online and PM stories inaccurately stated that Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Peter O’Neill was the first PNG Prime Minister to visit Bougainville since hostilities ceased in 1997.

February

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns that a story ‘RSL clubs face fight for future’ contained numerous inaccuracies and that the reporter misrepresented the nature of the story when seeking an interviewee’s participation.

November

Complaint: A complainant said reports inaccurately stated that the Federal Court had ruled that Melbourne City Council’s actions to break up the Occupy Melbourne protests two years ago were arbitrary and unlawful. The complainant also said that the television story used vision from a protest in City Square which was not the subject of the case.

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns of a lack of accuracy and of a failure to provide an adequate opportunity to respond to an allegation in relation to segments on the roll-out of the National Broadband Network in Scottsdale, Tasmania.

August

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story incorrectly stated that Egyptian asylum seeker Sayed Abdel Latif had been living in community detention in Australia, despite the issuing of an Interpol ‘red notice’.

Complaint: A complainant said that a report on the closure of several local newspapers in Melbourne was misleading and that the ABC failed to correct or clarify inaccuracies. The story reported allegations that News Limited had given some real estate agents in Melbourne loyalty payments so that they would do business only with News Limited publications. It was alleged that this was to the detriment of customers and other newspapers. The story reported as fact that “News Limited didn’t deny the practice in a written reply”.

June

Complaint: A complainant said that an episode ‘The Wrong Body’ gave the misleading impression that a participant in the documentary had her application to join a roller derby league rejected because of her transgender status.

Complaint: A viewer complained that the program failed to respect Indigenous cultural practices by inappropriately reporting the full name and broadcasting images of the recently deceased Yothu Yindi lead singer Mr Yunupingu.

Complaint: A complaint was received about an ABC Radio news report on the appearance of a man in a regional New South Wales local court. The complainant said that the report suggested that the man’s entire family was associated with the court system and were regularly coming before the court on a raft of offences.

May

Complaint: A complainant raised concerns of inaccuracy in 702 ABC Sydney news reports on a NSW state government proposal to allow amateur shooting in national parks. The reports stated that two senior members of the NSW Game Council had been charged with illegal hunting.

Complaint: A complainant said that a story on the collapse of a wall in Melbourne inaccurately reported the Melbourne City Council as stating that a hoarding attached to the wall did not require council approval.

Complaint: An audience member complained that a report ‘Foreign worker tit-for-tat “racist dog-whistling”’ inappropriately stated that the Federal Coalition Leader Tony Abbott was “…once again fuming about foreigners…”

Complaint: Two audience members complained that the ABC failed to follow up a report ‘Senior hunting officials investigated over cruelty’ with information that one of the officials was cleared of the charges and reinstated to his position on the NSW Game Council.

Complaint: An online reader challenged the accuracy of stories on allegations of match fixing in football. The stories reported that a bookmaker in South East Asia had taken $49 million on a game between Adelaide United and Melbourne Victory in December 2012.

Complaint: A complaint was received about coverage of a function at Kirribilli House. The complainant said that the introduction to the report mischaracterised the function by describing it as a reception for survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

Complaint: Several audience members complained about interviews on 774 ABC Melbourne which covered allegations against the Prime Minister in relation to her involvement in an AWU slush fund. Complainants said that interviews with Mark Baker, Editor-at-Large at The Age and Michael Smith, former 2UE talkback host, lacked balance, were conducted aggressively, and that the presenter demonstrated bias.

January

Complaint: An ABC Southern Queensland listener complained that a segment on a taxi driver shortage in Toowoomba included an interview with the manager of a local cab company which amounted to free recruitment advertising for that company.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a News presenter’s statement to promote an upcoming story on the 7.30 program. The complainant said that the statement was inaccurate, biased and lacked balance.

Complaint: Four viewers complained that a story on the construction of a dome to contain radioactive remnants at the site of the Chernobyl accident inaccurately stated that thousands of people had died due to the disaster.

2012

December

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report on the Prime Minister’s conduct as a lawyer in the 1990s inaccurately stated that Julia Gillard said she did not know that an association she helped set up in Western Australia was going to be used as a slush fund.

Complaint: A 774 ABC Melbourne listener complained that a report ‘Opinion polls show Qld Govt has dodged voter backlash’ failed to note that a political analyst interviewed for the report was a former ALP MP.

Complaint: A report about a bombing at a funeral in a suburb of the Syrian capital Damascus carried a headline which said that supporters of President Bashar al-Assad’s regime were targeted at the funeral. An online reader challenged the accuracy of the headline.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story ‘Elders to fight for Water Rights’ on water resources in the Mataranka region in the Northern Territory. The complainant raised several concerns of inaccuracy, bias and lack of balance. The original television story was broadcast on the 7pm News in the Northern Territory and on ABC News 24 nationally. Three related short radio stories were broadcast on the morning of 12 May. A version of the 7pm News story was also posted online.

Complaint: An RN listener complained about a story ‘Mitt Romney flying into the eye of a storm’ in which a Florida resident was interviewed about her thoughts on US Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney. The listener said that the story failed to inform the audience of the interviewee’s background.

Complaint: A complainant said that a radio news report on calls for a Royal Commission in to the Catholic Church’s handling of child sex abuse inaccurately referred to “dozens” of clergy in the Diocese of Maitland/Newcastle having been convicted of sex abuse.

Complaint: A complainant said that a 774 ABC Melbourne presenter inaccurately stated on air that the complainant had declined to be interviewed by the Mornings program, on which he had been criticised. The complainant stated that he had not been contacted by the program nor received an invitation to be interviewed on the program.

Complaint: An ABC RN listener complained that a news report stated that Senator Bill Heffernan had been cleared of any wrongdoing in an alleged confrontation with a staffer. The listener noted that Senator Heffernan had not actually been charged.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a report ‘Fears development will be at cost to Queensland’s environment’. The focus of the report was the concern expressed by environment and union groups over the new Government’s policies for industry and development, and what those groups see as a threat to the protection of the natural environment and the structure of the relevant government department to administer that protection. The complaint was that the story was biased, used quotes out of context, and lacked balance.

July

Complaint: An ABC NewsRadio listener challenged the accuracy of a story which stated that a WWF report had found that Australia was the seventh largest polluter in the world. Following a correction that was broadcast on ABC NewsRadio on 30 May, the listener further complained that the ABC’s response to his original complaint failed to fully address his concerns and that the correction was itself inaccurate.

Complaint: Two online readers complained that a story on the release of abusive emails sent to climate scientists at the Australian National University contained inaccuracies, was misleading and biased.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story on the shooting of a man at a Sydney shopping centre inaccurately stated that the man was running from police at the time he was shot. The complainant felt that the story was biased against the police.

April

Complaint: Three complainants alleged that the website Coal Seam Gas: by the Numbers contained numerous inaccuracies. Further, one of the complainants claimed that the site displayed a bias that misled and misinformed the audience.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of aspects of a report ‘Teen Drinking’ and questioned why a liquor industry perspective was not included to respond to allegations made in the report about that industry.

Complaint: An ABC News 24 viewer complained that a story about the Queensland state election inaccurately stated that former Premier Anna Bligh had previously promised not to privatise five high profile government owned corporations.

Complaint: An ABC Radio National listener complained that a report ‘Tassie’s timber industry facing tough times’ inaccurately stated that the woodchip industry in Tasmania was a by-product of the sawn timber industry.

March

Complaint: An ABC Local Radio listener complained about the inclusion of coarse language in a song which was played as part of a regular Statewide Afternoons segment called ‘Three of a kind’ in which a prominent musician is asked to select three songs and provide information on the song’s importance to them.

Complaint: A complainant expressed dissatisfaction with the length of time taken to add an Editor’s Note to the transcript of a story that had been found to be in breach of the ABC’s editorial standards for accuracy.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a news presenter’s statement that Opposition Leader Tony Abbott was the cause of protesters’ anger that resulted in a security incident on Australia Day in Canberra.

Complaint: Four audience members complained that a story ‘Immunise or lose benefits, parents told’ failed to include information that parents who join a list of conscientious objectors to immunisation would still qualify for the full Family Tax Benefit Part A end-of-year supplement.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the classification of an episode of Misfits and of several episodes of The Thick of It. The viewer also complained that promotions for both programs included incorrect classification symbols.

Complaint: A viewer complained that the presenter’s introduction to a story ‘Xenophon speech puts parliamentary privilege in spotlight’ was inaccurate in its reference to Senator Xenophon having accused a priest of rape, when the Senator had actually spoken of allegations of rape.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story on the final report into the Building the Education Revolution stimulus package. The viewer considered that the story misrepresented the report and reflected anti-Government bias.

Complaint: Three viewers complained that a story about possible effects of a carbon tax on household budgets included an inaccurate statement by a householder in relation to the amount of power generated by solar panels on her roof.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of the introduction to a story in which the presenter stated that on any given night in Australia “more than 100,000 people are homeless and most of them are women and children escaping domestic and family violence”.

Complaint: A complaint was received that a Catalyst segment ‘Perfect Embryo’ included serious inaccuracies which resulted in the program conveying the wrong impression about a couple featured in the segment.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report on impending electricity price increases in New South Wales attributed the rise to costs associated with energy firms complying with renewable energy targets.

June

Complaint: A viewer complained that images in a story on violence against the Ahmadiyah sect in Indonesia were graphic and disturbing. The viewer also complained that the images were not preceded by a warning.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report about CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Megan Clark’s support for a price on carbon inaccurately reported Dr Clark as having said "global warming is one of the most challenging issues facing humanity, and anti-climate action rallies play a crucial role in the national debate".

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report ‘Terrorism expert warns of ideological backlash’ included footage of bombings that the viewer found disturbing. Further, the complainant noted that the footage was not preceded by a warning.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a report ‘Under siege’, the focus of which was that Christians were leaving the Middle East out of fear for their safety. Complainants raised concerns of inaccuracy, lack of balance and lack of impartiality.

Complaint: An online reader complained that an article ‘Bowen reveals drop in boat arrivals’ included inaccurate figures originally released by the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, even though the Minister had subsequently released corrected statistics.

Complaint: Three complaints about an ABC Radio National Health Report story which covered a study on the use of naltrexone for opioid withdrawal and maintenance were upheld in 2008 on grounds of inaccuracy and complaint handling.

May

Complaint: A viewer complained about the inclusion of an academic’s views in a report on a nuclear emergency in Japan. The viewer noted that the academic was not formally qualified in nuclear physics and was an anti nuclear activist.

Complaint: A 702 ABC Sydney listener complained that a newsreader incorrectly stated that “There’s been another nuclear explosion in Japan after Friday’s huge earthquake”. The listener pointed out that there has not been a nuclear explosion in Japan since WWII.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story ‘Report casts doubt on Australians’ job skills’ lacked balance by reporting only Tony Abbott’s criticism of the government, made in response to the report’s findings.

Complaint: Three listeners complained that a representative of the Australian Vaccination Network (AVN) was invited to discuss the safety and efficacy of the influenza vaccine on the ABC South East (SA) Mornings program.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story ‘How did the Greens win the battle for Balmain?’ inaccurately reported that the inner western Sydney seat had been held by Labor “since anyone can remember”.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story ‘Toxic caesium found in fish off Japan’ inaccurately reported that traces of radioactive caesium had been found “for the first time in fish off Japan's east coast”.

Complaint: A complaint was received about the introduction of a report on a religious dispute in East St Kilda which described the area as “Melbourne’s Jewish heartland”. The complainant noted that the dispute did not involve the Jewish community.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story ‘Labor decimated in its heartland’ inaccurately stated that the seat of Newcastle was expected to fall to the Liberals “for the first time in more than a century”.

Complaint: An ABC Illawarra listener complained about a lack of balance in segments which dealt with Australian Government funding of a Vietnam Memorial in Washington and post traumatic stress disorder in the military.

Complaint: Two complainants expressed concern that a story on the reconstruction of a statue of Charles Dickens gave the false impression that stonemason Paul Thurloe was solely responsible for sculpting the head of the statue.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of an introductory statement to a report on the Government’s proposed carbon tax. The statement in question was: “But the Greens, who’ve endorsed the package, are desperate to get petrol on the list”.

Complaint: A complaint was received about an episode ‘Bad Call’, which looked at allegations of misleading and deceptive conduct in the telephony bundling market. The complainant considered that the episode contained inaccuracies, lacked balance and impartiality.

Complaint: A complainant expressed dissatisfaction with the ABC’s response to a previous complaint about a report ‘Taxi drivers demand quicker reforms’. In doing so, the complainant raised a new concern of inaccuracy.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out that an article “Libyan crisis could spell ‘disaster’ for Italy” inaccurately reported the number of Tunisian refugees who had landed on the Italian island of Lampedusa.

Complaint: A viewer complained that an interview during which the presenter asserted that WikiLeaks cables showed that the public had been lied to in relation to the Iraq war was inaccurate and biased.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a reporter’s statement that “Australia is the largest per capita producer of greenhouse gases” in a story about the proposed introduction of a carbon tax.

Complaint: An online reader complained that coverage of allegations of sexual misconduct against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange inaccurately reported that the allegations were made by two WikiLeaks volunteers.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to the ABC’s reporting on the inquest into the deaths of a family who were killed when a stolen car that had been pursued by police collided with theirs.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a presenter’s statement that “It takes just one fibre of the dangerous building material [asbestos] to get into a person’s lungs to cause the fatal disease mesothelioma.”

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story on a protest against a proposed pulp mill in northern Tasmania incorrectly reported the location of protesters as downstream from the planned mill site.

Complaint: An ABC News 24 viewer complained about a report in which it was stated that Ryan Park, Labor candidate for the seat of Keira, was “taking his marginal seat campaign to the suburb of Corrimal”.

Complaint: A listener complained that the headline of a story ‘Indigenous group backs new intervention’ was inaccurate as the group referred to in the story, Action for Alice, was not an Indigenous group.

Complaint: A complaint was received about the program’s coverage of matters related to mining in Papua New Guinea. Specifically, the complaint was that a story ‘The Price of Gold’ was inaccurate and misleading.

Complaint: An online reader challenged the accuracy of a story ‘Lawyer says Roleystone fire victims could sue’ which reported that owners of thirty eight homes destroyed in a separate fire in Western Australia were all being represented by the same lawyer.

Complaint: An ABC News 24 viewer complained about an inaccurate reference to Mary McKillop as “the nation’s first saint”. The viewer also considered this an example of Roman Catholic bias on the part of the ABC.

Complaint: A viewer complained that coverage on ABC News 24 of comments made by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott about circumstances surrounding the death of an Australian soldier were biased and inaccurate.

Complaint: An audience member complained that episodes of Breaking Bad broadcast on ABC2 on 10 September and 15 October 2010 were incorrectly classified M due to depictions of violence in both episodes and drug use in one.

Complaint: An online reader expressed concern that a link to a company in an article ‘You Wouldn't Leave your Family Without Health Insurance’ could be seen as advertising. The article examined the importance of backing up computers, explained the two typical options for home users to do so, and advocated the use of backup solutions. Information about the author was provided in a paragraph at the end of the article, including a link to the company for which he worked.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a report on floods in Victoria inaccurately reported “Kerang and Warracknabeal are in uncharted territory, with floods like this never seen since European settlement.”

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a story about the shooting of a US congresswoman and eighteen other people in Arizona, in which it was stated that “Arizona is one of a handful of states that allows people to carry concealed weapons in public”. The complainant also considered this evidence of anti-gun bias.

Complaint: Two viewers complained that a story on new fertility figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics was biased in that it implied population growth in Australia was necessary or desirable. One of the complainants also challenged the accuracy of a statement in the story.

An online reader noted that a report ‘Tests confirm virus in wild abalone’, incorrectly stated that Tasmanian Primary Complaint: Industries and Water Minister Bryan Green had banned recreational diving from Waubs Bay to Lodi Point near Bicheno.

Complaint: An audience member complained that an online story inaccurately stated that US Vice President Joe Biden had described WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange as a “high-tech terrorist”. The audience member noted that the error was repeated in an ABC Radio National Summer Breakfast program.

Complaint: A complainant felt that a report ‘Concern about faecal contamination levels in Brisbane River’ was misleading in that it did not reveal that pollution results were obtained by a Courier Mail investigation.

Complaint: A complainant pointed out that incorrect supers were included in a story on claims that the Prime Minister of Kosovo was involved in the trafficking of human organs forcibly removed from Serb civilians in 1999.

Complaint: A complainant noted that an article ‘Funeral industry crackdown urged over bodies in trailers’ inaccurately referred to Mr Vince Calleja as the Secretary of the Australian Funeral Directors Association.

January

Complaint: An audience member complained that episodes of Criminal Justice broadcast on ABC2 on 31 August and 7, 14 and 28 September 2010 were incorrectly classified. The audience member felt that the episodes should have been classified MA15+ and should have been broadcast after 9.30pm. The audience member also expressed concern that advisories shown prior to each of these episodes were inadequate.

Complaint: A complaint was received about an interview on 702 ABC Sydney Afternoons in which it was stated by a guest on the program that “Gough Whitlam copped it because he wouldn’t come back for Cyclone Tracy”.

Complaint: A triple j listener complained about a discussion between a newsreader and the program presenter that took place after the presentation of a news bulletin. The newsreader said that during lunar events the newsroom received “mental people and senior citizens calling in about crazy, crazy things...”

Complaint: A viewer raised concerns about a Compass episode ‘Schools of Thought’ which looked at the question of whether ethics should be offered to school students as an alternative to religious instruction or scripture classes. The viewer noted that the Compass presenter was a board member of the St James Ethics Centre (SJEC), which prepared the curriculum for the Ethics Pilot program that was featured in the episode. The viewer complained that this interest was not disclosed and also questioned a Media Watch decision not to pursue and run a story about the issue.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a lack of captions during part of the South Australian 7pm news bulletin on 25 October and two viewers complained that QI was broadcast without captions on 16 November.

Complaint: Two online readers complained that a headline ‘De Rossi Attacks Gillard over gay marriage stance’ suggested that Portia de Rossi directly attacked Julia Gillard over her stance on gay marriage when she had not.

Complaint: A 612 ABC Brisbane listener complained about lack of balance in a report about a protest on the second anniversary of the introduction of legislation which decriminalised abortion in Victoria.

Complaint: An online reader complained that the report, “Aldred's preselection bid fails”, contained an inaccurate statement that “Mr Aldred was dumped by the party in 1996, the year after he launched an attack on a prominent Jewish lawyer and a senior foreign affairs official in Parliament, using documents that were later found to be forged.”

Complaint:A viewer complained that during a news story about Tasmanian climate change projections compiled by the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, the reporter incorrectly stated that research blocks would be 10 square kilometres instead of 100 square kilometres.

Complaint: A 702 ABC Sydney listener raised concerns of inaccuracy in a news report, which stated that “L-platers have to keep a log book showing they have done at least 120 hours practice before they are tested for their P-plates. They can reduce that to 100 hours if they receive all their training from a driving school.”

Complaint: Two online readers complained that a news story “Talks resume over Israeli soldier's release” incorrectly stated that Gilad Shalit tunnelled under the border between Gaza and Israel in 2006.

Complaint: A viewer complained that Mr Harry Jenkins, Speaker of the House of Representatives, was incorrectly captioned as “Harry Evans” during a news story about the opening of the forty-third Australian Parliament.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a news story “Woman jailed for defrauding sheik of $800k” incorrectly reported the title of Sheik Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum as Crown Prince and Ruler of Dubai.

Complaint: A complainant challenged claims made in an article “Research finds repressed memories don't exist” that Professor Richard McNally from Harvard University provided a briefing to the US Supreme Court, on the basis that only attorneys stand before this court.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a headline "Surge in export prices likely to support October rates rise" that appeared in the ABC News 24 news ticker was inaccurate, and should have referred to a November rates rise.

Complaint: A viewer complained about reporting of Telstra share prices on ABC News 24, which stated “Telstra shares are down 5.5 percent though, with the future of the National Broadband Network uncertain”. The statement was accompanied by an on-screen graphic, headed ‘Market Movers’, which listed Telstra as being down seventeen cents to $2.79. The viewer pointed out that Telstra shares had gone ex-dividend that day.

Complaint: An audience member complained that a report ‘Israel proposes loyalty oath’ inaccurately stated that Israel’s cabinet had backed a controversial law that would “force non-Jewish citizens to pledge an oath of loyalty to the country as a Jewish state”.

Complaint: Four viewers raised concerns about a Four Corners program ‘Overdose’ which looked at events leading up the global financial crisis. Concerns included that the program was a one-sided propaganda piece.

September

Complaint: Two complaints were received regarding an item published on 774 ABC Melbourne's website, ‘Gay challenge to Christian Brethren’. Both complainants raised concerns of inaccuracy and one felt that the story lacked balance.

Complaint: Three viewers questioned the accuracy of statements on The 7.30 Report, the 7pm News and Stateline (NSW) that Australian Greens candidate Adam Bandt would be the first Green to win a lower house seat in a federal parliament if he won the seat.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of a report in which it was stated that Northern Territory Housing Minister Christopher Burns had called for the dumping of the Indigenous housing program known as SIHIP.

Complaint: A complainant challenged the accuracy of a Local Radio news report on an apology by the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne to victims of sexual abuse. The report stated that the Catholic Archbishop of Sydney had “stopped short” of apologising to victims of sexual abuse.

Complaint: A viewer complained that episodes of a Compass series ‘Christianity: A History’ contained inaccurate historical facts. The viewer also considered that an episode was prejudiced in its presentation of the Catholic faith.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a promotion for Q and A inaccurately stated that the program was broadcast live. The viewer had previously complained to the ABC on this matter and that complaint was upheld.

Complaint: Four audience members complained about the reporting of the views of Urban Taskforce Australia in reports about the Prime Minister’s announcement of a change in population policy. Complainants said the reports failed to make clear that the organisation is a lobby group for the property development industry.

Complaint:A viewer complained that a report on the dismissal of corruption charges against former Western Australian Premier Brian Burke and his business associate Julian Grill inaccurately stated that the men had been found not guilty and had been acquitted.

Complaint: A viewer questioned the accuracy of a report in which it was stated that the Hong Kong Hang Seng Index had “opened higher” on 16 June. The viewer noted that it was a public holiday in Hong Kong that day.

Complaint: Several viewers complained about a Foreign Correspondent story ‘Hell or High Water’ on the phenomenon of Tamil asylum seekers attempting to reach Australia. Concerns included that the program contained inaccuracies and was biased.

Complaint: A listener complained that a report ‘Australian enrichment invention could aid terrorists’ was biased. The report included comments from Dr Francis Slakey, a US physicist, that an enrichment process developed in Australia, known as SILEX, posed a threat to nuclear security.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of an aspect of a story on the Chinese economy. The viewer also felt that the story took a position on the Australian Government’s proposed resources super profits tax.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a reporter inaccurately referred to the airline Emirates as “United Arab Emirates” and to Sheikh Mohammed al Maktoum as an “oil sheikh”, when his country’s wealth is built primarily on trade.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a report ‘Atom smasher closer to Big Bang’ included the view of people who had raised concerns about the process of the Large Hadron Collider and that the report referred to them as ‘sceptics’.

Complaint: Five viewers complained about a finance report in which it was stated “Among the resources stocks Rio and BHP fell slightly but Woodside went up. NAB fell more than one per cent after going ex dividend, and Orica dropped two per cent.” Complainants pointed out that NAB had not in fact gone ex-dividend on the date reported.

May

Complaint: An online reader complained that a report which referenced an upcoming Four Corners story inaccurately stated that ex-members of the Church of Scientology alleged that they were “forced to hand over large sums of money”.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story ‘Opposition rejects climate plan study’ lacked sufficient context. The study, by ClimateWorks Australia, found the Coalition's climate plan would not cut emissions by as much as it claimed. The complainant noted that the story failed to mention that key members of ClimateWorks are Australian Labor Party members.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a segment which looked at current pressures on the relationship between Israel and the United States, following calls from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton that Israel cease settlement activity. The viewer stated that the segment only provided “one side of the story”.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story inaccurately reported that a United States judge had ruled that patents could not be held over human genes because “finding a gene occurring in nature…isn’t a discovery”.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a report which stated that Australian Neil Robertson had “an opportunity to become only the third player from outside the UK to win” the world snooker championship.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of the introduction to a report on the United States’ policy to limit the use of nuclear weapons. The introduction referred to Iran as a country that refused to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Complaint: A 936 ABC Hobart listener complained that a newsreader referred to Branxholm as being in the north west rather than north east of Tasmania. The listener also complained about a separate report in which two traffic accidents were reported to have occurred in south bound lanes on Hobart's Southern Outlet. The listener pointed out that one of the accidents was in a north bound lane.

Complaint: An ABC Mildura - Swan Hill listener questioned the accuracy of attendance figures provided in a news report and the Breakfast program in relation to a meeting of people opposed to a proposed casino for Mildura.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report on research into a potential treatment for Type 1 diabetes. The complainant noted that the report simply referred to ‘diabetes’ and therefore failed to differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a reporter inaccurately referred to fifty “milligrams” per cubic metre rather than “micrograms” as the safe level for dust emissions in a report on the impact of mining on health for residents of the Upper Hunter Valley in New South Wales.

Complaint: Two viewers complained that panel member Sue Cato’s connection with Gunns Limited should have been disclosed on the program. One of the complainants felt that Ms Cato had an agenda in relation to the Tasmanian pulp mill and expressed concern that the lack of disclosure amounted to bias.

Complaint: Two viewers expressed a range of concerns about a story on false memories and memory repression, including that it contained errors, was biased, misleading and failed to disclose relevant information.

Complaint: A complaint was received about coverage on 612 ABC Brisbane of the suspension from the Liberal National Party of Brisbane City Councillor Nicole Johnston. The complainant stated that the coverage was inaccurate and failed to seek balancing comment.

Complaint: During a debate on population growth between businessman Dick Smith and Liberal National Party Member for Gympie David Gibson on 612 ABC Brisbane, Mr Smith voiced his belief that the Murdoch press and its employees had demonstrated an agenda to support population growth and were critical of those expressing a different view. A listener complained that the presenter who facilitated the debate should have disclosed associations with a Murdoch newspaper.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report on a referendum in Iceland in which it was stated that “The government plan...to repay the international loans...attracted widespread opposition.” The viewer noted that no such loans existed.

Complaint: An audience member pointed out that the online transcript of a report ‘Oil from stranded Chinese coal carrier to be transferred to a barge’ inaccurately stated that 950,000 tonnes of oil on board the Chinese carrier would be transferred into a barge bunker.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the inclusion of an image of a deceased man to illustrate comments about violence being an inevitable product of drug prohibition and about drug-related cartel violence on the US-Mexican border.

Complaint: Two viewers complained that bulk carrier the MV Mimosa was incorrectly illustrated and described as a tanker in a report about the crew of the ship being charged with taking a short cut through the Great Barrier Reef.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story which reported that a yacht had run aground on Erith Island, “north east of Flinders Island”. The viewer pointed out that Erith Island is north west of Flinders Island.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a reference to British Royal Marine Chaplains as army chaplains in the introduction to a story was inaccurate. The viewer pointed out that they were naval chaplains.

Complaint: A viewer complained about coverage of the British Prime Minister’s apology to child migrants who were sent to colonies including Australia last century as part of the Child Migrants Program. The viewer complained that the migrants were inaccurately described as “destitute children”.

Complaint: An online reader complained about two online stories and a video link which reported on a reprimand of Israeli Army officers for ordering an attack on the United Nations headquarters in Gaza.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out that Rajendra Pachauri, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, was incorrectly referred to as a climate scientist in the headline of an ABC News Online report.

Complaint: A complainant stated that a story ‘Forestry workers target Greens’ launch’ inaccurately reported that Tasmanian Greens leader Nick McKim was heckled on his was in to the Greens election campaign launch in Hobart and that protestors had gate-crashed the launch.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a story about Newspoll results on the satisfaction ratings of Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott. The story stated that the popularity of Mr Rudd had dropped six points to 52 per cent, whilst Mr Abbott had jumped to 61 per cent.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a finance report in which it was reported that Tatts Group shares had dropped eighteen cents. The viewer pointed out that the report failed to mention that ten cents of this was dividend.

Complaint: A Local Radio listener complained about a news story on a report from the Climate Institute which found that the price of groceries would increase more due to climate change than from an emissions trading scheme. The listener questioned why the views of those critical of the report were not included in the story.

Complaint: A listener complained that a report ‘Abbott defends stance on virginity and sex’ was misleading in that it stated that Tony Abbott had offered advice to women in general not simply his own daughters. The listener also complained that the presenter’s statement “But Mr Abbott now says the comments were directed only at his daughters...” implied that Mr Abbott had attempted to reconstruct the meaning of his original statement.

March

Complaint: A viewer complained about a panel discussion on the program about US President Barack Obama’s first year in office, and the Democrats’ recent surprise loss of the Senate seat of Massachusetts. The viewer questioned the composition of the panel, which was made up of three members of Democrats Abroad Australia.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report on Iran’s nuclear program, in which it was stated that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had ordered the production of uranium enriched to twenty percent, “five times what’s needed for peaceful purposes”. The viewer pointed out that twenty percent enriched uranium is necessary for the production of medical radioisotopes, a peaceful purpose.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a Midday Report story on the hanging of Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as ‘Chemical Ali’. The complainant noted that the translation accompanying an Iraqi man, who was featured condemning the execution, was inaccurate. The complainant pointed out that a similar story run on PBS NewsHour included the same man, but he was translated as applauding Ali’s death.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a finance report in which it was stated that Westfield shares had dropped seventy four cents. The viewer noted that the presenter did not mention that the stock had gone ex-dividend.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a newsreader incorrectly referred to former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra as the former Thai Head of State. The viewer noted that the King of Thailand is that country’s Head of State.

Complaint: A viewer expressed concern about content included in a documentary With Gilbert and George. The viewer considered that the program contained material unsuitable for broadcast in a PG timeslot.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a story ‘Climate change drives bears to cannibalism, conservationists say’ failed to include reference to an alternative explanation to the bears’ behaviour.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report on the opening of a new section of the Ipswich Motorway in Queensland gave the misleading impression that the Howard government had opposed the upgrade project.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a program on cyber bullying broadcast on 774 ABC Melbourne. The complainant was concerned that allegations made during the program were erroneous and unsupported.

Complaint: Nine viewers complained that a report inappropriately referred to kangaroos as pests and their numbers as being in plague proportions. The complainants also argued that the report was biased.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a graphic displayed during a report about the execution of Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as ‘Chemical Ali’. The graphic behind the newsreader said ‘Justice served’.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the inclusion of graphic footage in a report about protests on the streets of Iran. The viewer also complained that a warning was not given prior to the footage being shown.

Complaint: An audience member questioned the accuracy of a report in which it was stated that there were “about a quarter of a million Australian members” of the Church of Scientology. The audience member pointed out that the 2006 Census found that a significantly smaller number of Australians identified themselves as Scientologists.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out an inaccuracy in an article ‘Drum Wrap: Newspoll goes 40-41’. The online reader also complained that the ABC’s subsequent correction of the error was inadequate.

Complaint: An audience member complained that news reports incorrectly referred to “learning disabilities” rather than “intellectual disabilities”. The audience member also complained about a discussion on the 702 ABC Sydney Mornings program which was about learning disabilities and whether they might be a hindrance to carrying out the duties of a member of parliament.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report ‘Marine killers heading south’ inaccurately stated that jellyfish “attack” their victims. The viewer pointed out that jellyfish have defence tentacles with stings on them but do not actually attack.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a report that the Australian Retailers’ Association (ARA) had predicted a fall of 3,000 in the number of retail jobs. The complainant pointed out that the forecast was actually made by the Retailers’ Association, a group that is completely independent of the ARA.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to the ABC’s coverage of the prosecution of Tasmanian Police Commissioner Jack Johnston. The complainant raised a number of concerns, including that various ABC broadcasts had failed to disclose that Mr Johnston was a personal friend of former Attorney General Sir Max Bingham and an expert commentator, whose views on the case had been reported in a range of ABC broadcasts.

Complaint: An ABC Radio National listener complained about the inclusion of coarse language during a reading of a short story ‘An important person in a hurry' by Australian writer Scott McDermott on Sunday Story. Further, the listener complained that the segment was not preceded by a warning.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a live online forum held after the program was not in fact available straight after the program for Western Australian viewers, contrary to references made on the program.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story on Canberra’s Urban Forest Renewal Program was one sided government-generated propaganda. The viewer also questioned the presenter’s involvement with the renewal project.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a story about the Battle of Milne Bay fought during World War II wrongly implied that the Citizens Military Forces, and in particular the 61st Battalion, single handedly defeated the Japanese at Milne Bay.

Complaint: A viewer complained that footage of Arnold Schwarzenegger speaking at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was incorrectly captioned “Mayor of California” instead of “Governor of California”.

Complaint: A listener complained that conflicting information was provided in two different reports in relation to the signing of the European Union's Lisbon Treaty by Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus.

2009

December

Complaint: A listener complained about coverage of an Australian Victoria Cross recipient who met the Queen at Windsor Castle. The listener pointed out that the Governor General presented the soldier with the award.

Complaint: A listener challenged the accuracy of a reporter’s statement that “Climate change models forecast that in another quarter of a century Ethiopia will suffer droughts three out of every four years”.

Complaint: A listener complained about coverage of a report commissioned by Medicines Australia which found that Federal Government reforms to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme were working and profitable. The listener pointed out that the story failed to disclose that Medicines Australia is the national body representing pharmaceutical companies.

Complaint: An audience member complained that a summary of Inside Hana's Suitcase on the ABC’s online television guide inaccurately referred to Poland as the country in which Hana and George Brady grew up.

Complaint: Seventy five viewers complained about an erroneous statement made during the ‘Ask the Expert’ segment that boiling water separates oxygen atoms from water molecules. Further, eight of the complainants noted that a statement that water always boils at one hundred degrees Celsius was incorrect.

Complaint: A viewer noted an inaccurate reference to the date of the American War of Independence during a finance report. The presenter had stated that a graph showed “US government debt as a percentage of GDP back to the War of Independence in 1790”.

Complaint: An audience member complained about coverage of the death of Australian man Darren Duggan who was hit by a train in Munich. Specifically, the audience member complained that a report inaccurately stated that Mr Duggan had moved to Germany and that another report inaccurately stated that he had a three year old daughter.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a Stateline report which looked at concerns over the possible impact of a chemical waste dump on residents of Dalyellup in the south west of Western Australia. The complainant raised a number of concerns, including that the report was inaccurate and lacked impartiality.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a Stateline report ‘Mystery at Sea’ included a graphic of a map of Flinders Island, off the coast of Tasmania, to illustrate a story about a yacht that had crashed into Flinders Islet off Port Kembla, New South Wales.

Complaint: An audience member considered that reference in an episode to a Meccano Club exhibition to be held on 13 and 14 October in Melbourne was misleading as the dates actually referred to a previous exhibition held in 2007.

Complaint: An audience member complained about an assertion on Gardening Australia that the addition of seaweed to a garden improves nitrogen deficiency. The audience member pointed to findings of a New Zealand court and Australian research which found no benefit to crop yield.

Complaint: An online reader complained about a story ‘Gaza’s children fly for kite world record’ which reported on a United Nations event organised “to give something positive to children who are on summer holiday but banned from leaving Gaza because of the Israeli blockade”. The complainant pointed out that Egypt participates in the blockade of Gaza and considered reference to an “Israeli blockade” amounted to bias against Israel.

Complaint: A viewer complained about reference in a report to a blood alcohol concentration of 0.321 as being “more than six times above the legal limit”. The viewer pointed out that a concentration more than six times above the legal limit would be at least 0.35.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a report on a visit to New York by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd contained footage of Mr Rudd with President Barack Obama. The viewer noted that the footage was actually from a previous visit and felt that its use in this story implied an exaggerated importance of Australia on the world stage.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of the presenter’s statement that “Australia’s Reserve Bank is the first central bank in the developed world to signal an end to the financial crisis by lifting rates”. The viewer noted that Israel had previously lifted rates.

Complaint: A talkback participant on 720 ABC Perth’s Mornings program complained that he was prevented from adequately putting forward his opinions on border protection. The complainant considered this evidence of left wing bias.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a segment about whooping cough vaccination on the ABC Mid North Coast Mornings program. The complainant raised a number of concerns about the segment, including that it was inaccurate and lacked balance.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report which looked at ingenious building methods being developed by Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, due to a lack of traditional building materials as a result of the Israeli blockade. The viewer argued that the report was biased as it failed to provide information on Israel’s reasons for the blockade.

Complaint: An audience member raised a number of concerns about coverage of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and stated that programs were “biased, inaccurate and misleading”. Among the audience member’s concerns was a reference to Hamas as “a proscribed terrorist organisation” in two reports.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story which reported that a “member of the Exclusive Brethren” was on trial in Launceston charged with sex offences. The complainant pointed out that the man had not been a member of the Exclusive Brethren for many years.

Complaint: An online reader expressed concern with an ABC News Online article originally published under the headline “Israel would strike Iran ‘with its last breath’”. The online reader felt that the headline implied a statement made by Israel, not Iran as was reported in the article.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story ‘Aussie Combat Women’ which examined government plans to increase the active involvement of women in combat zones in the Australian Defence Force. The complainant stated that the report contained inaccuracies and also misrepresented the position of the Australia Defence Association.

October

Complaint: A 105.7 ABC Darwin listener complained that a story in the 7am news bulletin incorrectly referred to Mr Des Crowe as a hotelier. Mr Crowe is a lawyer who makes applications to the Licensing Commission on behalf of the licensees.

Complaint: A viewer noted that a correspondent incorrectly stated “Ten decades later – a movie about this epic struggle...” in reference to a movie about the Chinese Communist Party’s rise to power. The viewer pointed out that the Communist party had governed the country for sixty years.

Complaint: A complainant raised a number of concerns about various stories, which included coverage of issues relating to a report by the Victorian Ombudsman into Brimbank City Council. The complainant argued that the stories were inaccurate and lacked both balance and impartiality.

Complaint: Four 702 ABC Sydney listeners complained about a discussion on the Mornings program about learning disabilities and whether they might be a hindrance to carrying out the duties of a member of parliament. The discussion had been prompted by events of the previous day, in which Senator Steve Fielding mispronounced the word ‘fiscal’ as ‘physical’ during an interview, and then misspelt the word, before revealing he had a learning difficulty. Complainants felt that the presenter stigmatised people with learning difficulties and equated learning difficulties to stupidity. One of the listeners also felt that the broadcast was biased against Senator Fielding.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a newsreader’s statement that Tasmania’s suspended Police Commissioner was “accused of passing on confidential information to the State Government without a police investigation”.

Complaint: A viewer complained that vision from the Bosnia and Herzegovina conflict was incorrectly used in a report on a ruling by the Federal Court of Australia in relation to suspected war criminal Dragan Vasiljkovic. The viewer pointed out that Mr Vasiljkovic was only involved in the Serbia and Croatia conflict.

Complaint: A viewer complained that use of footage of an Israeli military aircraft in a report was misleading. The footage was used to accompany a reporter’s statement that Somali group al-Shabaab attempted to shoot down an Israeli jet in 2002. The viewer pointed out that the aircraft that had been targeted was a civilian jet not a military fighter.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about the level of violence depicted in a scene of an episode of Spooks broadcast on 27 July. The episode was classified ‘M’ and was preceded by a warning that it contained violence and a sex scene. However, both viewers felt that the episode contained content which exceeded the ‘M’ rating. One of the complainants also considered that an episode broadcast on 20 July similarly contained content which exceeded its ‘M’ rating.

Complaint: An audience member complained about a video report on protests in South Africa published under the headline ‘Protests tip South Africa into turmoil’. The audience member argued that the report confused and misrepresented two protests about separate issues, namely one by municipal workers aiming for a fifteen per cent increase in wages and another by residents in townships who were striking over service delivery. The audience member felt that the report inaccurately suggested that municipal workers live on less than two US dollars per day.

Complaint: Following a report ‘Kokoda crash sparks questions of trek safety’, the presenter stated: “And for those who prefer to call it the Kokoda Track, the Australian War Memorial calls it the Kokoda Trail, so we have too”. A viewer challenged the accuracy of this statement.

Complaint: Two complaints were received about reference in a report to the “Sobibor death camp in the eastern part of Poland”. Both complainants considered that the report should have specified that the death camp was on occupied land.

August

Complaint: A listener questioned the accuracy of some aspects of a News Online report and an AM broadcast about a protest in Jerusalem by Orthodox Jews who were angry at moves by a council to open a car park on Saturdays.

Complaint: An audience member questioned the accuracy of several reports in which it was stated that the deposed President of Honduras was calling for a vote to change the constitution in order to give him a further term in office.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a report on the failure of Emissions Trading Scheme legislation to pass the Senate. Specifically, the complainant questioned description of the legislation in the introduction to the report as “a plan for the world’s most ambitious emissions trading scheme”.

Complaint: A Radio National listener pointed out two inaccuracies in a Sunday Profile program in which both the Deputy Foreign Minister of Israel, Danny Ayalon, and Australia's Deputy Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, were interviewed.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a report ‘Calls for Ritalin to be made available to boost mental performance’. The complainant pointed out that the report misquoted a US Food and Drug Administration warning in stating “the US Food and Drug Administration warns Ritalin has a high potential for dependence, risk of sudden death and adverse effects on the heart”.

Complaint: Several viewers complained about a newsreader’s reference to former US President Bill Clinton as ‘slick Willy’ in the introduction to a story about his role in the release of two journalists from prison in North Korea.

A 612 ABC Brisbane listener complained about a news report on the results of a hygiene survey that had been sponsored by a private cleaning product company. The study reported Australia as having some of the dirtiest homes in the world.

Complaint: A large number of viewers registered their distress at what they saw as the offensive nature of the ‘Make a Realistic Wish Foundation’ sketch. Several complainants also asked how the segment came to be approved for broadcast.

Complaint: An audience member complained that this series inaccurately referred to Douglas as the maker of the 727 aircraft. The audience member pointed out that the 727 was in fact produced by Boeing.

Complaint: A 612 ABC Brisbane listener complained about aspects of coverage of an Air France airbus crash in the Atlantic ocean. The listener noted that a reporter incorrectly referred to the discovery of bodies off the east coast of Brazil.

Complaint: A triple j listener questioned the means by which the winner of a triple j ‘Hottest 100 Of All Time’ competition was selected. The announcement of the winner on the Breakfast program on 13 July stated that the winner had been chosen at random.

Complaint: A viewer pointed out that the wrong type of aircraft was referred to in a story about a permanent memorial to forty American airmen who were killed in a plane crash in Queensland during World War II.

Complaint: A listener complained about a report ‘US troops out of Iraqi cities’ in which it was stated that President Bush “infamously declared mission accomplished” on board the USS Abraham Lincoln in May 2003. The listener pointed out that President Bush did not make such a declaration.

Complaint: Four listeners complained about a report ‘Baptism of fire in Gaza’ which provided a correspondent’s initial impressions of Gaza. The account provided graphic descriptions of devastation in Gaza and included an allegation that the Israeli Defence Force shot dead a child and then used his corpse for target practice. The complainants expressed similar concerns, namely that the report was one-sided and failed to include an Israeli perspective.

Complaint: An audience member complained about a report ‘Israeli PM silent on Palestinian state’. The audience member pointed out that a commentator featured in the report was incorrectly identified in a ‘super’.

Complaint: An online reader challenged the accuracy of a report which stated that “the Israeli government is against giving up any Palestinian land”. The online reader felt that this was an example of “the ABC's ongoing war of propaganda against Israel”.

Complaint: An audience member complained about aspects of an item broadcast on The World Today titled 'World Bank blames Israel for regional water woes' and a News Online report titled 'Palestinians suffering amid scarce water supplies'. Amongst the complainant’s concerns were that the reports were inaccurate and partisan.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment in which general tourism information was provided about the Riverina region. A guest on the segment recommended a particular winery as a tourist attraction and described the winery and its services in some detail. The listener felt that the winery was effectively advertised on the program.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report in which it was stated that a swimmer had broken the men’s 200 metre backstroke world record with a time of 52.86 seconds. The viewer pointed out that the time posted was actually one minute and 52.86 seconds.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a story ‘Gunns gets cheap water’ which reported that Tasmanian farmers were paying $1,100 per mega litre for water while the timber company Gunns was paying $24 per mega litre. The complainant stated that the report was inaccurate, misleading and biased.

June

Complaint: A listener complained about the inclusion of coarse language during a reading of ‘The Shed’ by author Chris Womersley on Sunday Story. Further, the listener complained that the segment was not preceded by a warning.

Complaint: An audience member complained about a range of reports on the topic of the Gaza blockade. The audience member considered that the ABC reporting on the topic was inaccurate, lacked balance and demonstrated a systemic anti-Israel bias.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story ‘Foreign investors exploit cheap Vanuatu land’. The complainant expressed concern that the story implied TransPacific Real Estate was involved in development of land in Vanuatu.

Complaint: A listener complained that highlights from the 2009 Australian National Band Championships were not played every week over twelve weeks as advised on the Strike Up The Band program and website.

Complaint: Three listeners complained that a presenter stated that she ‘hates the English’ when discussing the fact that an English man had won a Tourism Queensland competition for ‘The Best Job in the World’.

Complaint: An audience member questioned use of the term ‘gun culture’ in the headline of an online transcript. The audience member also felt that the report, about debate on gun control in New Zealand after a police officer had been shot, lacked balance.

Complaint: Two viewers complained that a report on a tribute at the Australian War Memorial to Bomber Command described their night-time raids on Germany and occupied Europe as ‘infamous’ rather than ‘famous’.

Complaint: A complaint was received about an article which reported that East Timor’s Finance Ministry had been the subject of a damning report from an international accounting company. The complainant pointed out that audits which led to the report were in fact conducted on the former Government.

Complaint: A complainant argued that a report on a Senate Inquiry into the government’s climate change policy incorrectly paraphrased comments to the inquiry by an environmental geologist from James Cook University.

Complaint: A listener challenged the accuracy of a story that reported the ‘first case’ of the safe removal of a leech from a human eye. The listener pointed out that getting a leech in the eye is not uncommon for people who live near subtropical rainforests and the treatment is often to flush them out with salt water.

Complaint: A viewer complained that the wrong paintings were shown during the end credits of the program. The presenter had indicated that images of a particular artist’s work would be shown, but the viewer pointed out they were actually another artist’s work.

Complaint: A complainant noted that the ABC’s reception advice website incorrectly stated that the first closed captioned program was broadcast in Australia in 1982. The complainant pointed out that it occurred in 1983.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a report in which it was stated that the Prime Minister had been photographed with prominent businesswoman Helen Liu. The viewer also considered that the report lacked balance.

Complaint: A listener complained that a story incorrectly referred to the Sri Lankan government’s military offensive against “ethnic Tamils”. The listener pointed out that the offensive was against the proscribed terrorist group the Tamil Tigers.

Complaint: Four listeners complained about broadcast of the song ‘The Greatest Hit’ by South Australian hip hop act Funkoars. The listeners considered the song offensive, specifically that it was misogynistic, degrading to women, sexist and homophobic.

Complaint: A viewer questioned the science behind a Catalyst story on behavioural economics. Specifically, the viewer expressed concern with the nature and size of samples in studies featured in the report; and with the reporter’s explanation of ‘optimism bias’.

Complaint: An audience member complained about two stories published on ABC Online, both of which referred to an Australian activist in Gaza, Sharon Lock. The complainant pointed out that the activist’s membership of the International Solidarity Movement, a Palestinian-led movement, was not disclosed in the reports. The complainant felt that this omission reflected a pervasive and systemic anti-Israel bias.

Complaint: A listener complained about a story which reported that the medical journal The Lancet had published a study showing that there were 163,000 fire related deaths in India in one year. The listener disputed the research findings and considered the research to be biased.

Complaint: An online reader complained about another audience member’s comment posted in response to a story about the Pope’s views on condoms. The complainant felt that the comment was offensive to Christians.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story which focused on debate about fuel reduction in the aftermath of recent bushfires in Victoria. The story included a case study of a family who had been fined by their local council some years previously for clearing trees on their property. The viewer raised a number of concerns and questioned the report’s accuracy, impartiality and balance.

Complaint: An online reader complained that an article described Jerusalem as a holy place to Muslims and Christians but failed to mention that it is also holy to Jews. The complainant also argued that the article should have included further historical context regarding the annexation of East Jerusalem.

Complaint: An audience member complained about a reporter’s statement that “The chief of the Marysville CFA lost his wife and daughter when their house burnt down.” The audience member pointed out that the CFA chief lost his wife and son.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a report on a conference at the Vatican attended by theologians and evolutionists. The complainant felt that the story incorrectly reported that a Professor of Genetics at the University College of London had no answer when he was asked by a group of students how the human species began.

Complaint: An online reader complained about a report which stated “Treasurer Wayne Swan says the Government will act if necessary to further stimulate the economy, amid criticisms its last two packages have not worked”. The online reader pointed out that the second stimulus package had not been delivered at the time of the report.

Complaint: A viewer complained that the wrong presenter of The 7.30 Report was announced at the end of the news bulletin on two nights. The viewer pointed out that an alternative presenter hosted the program on these nights.

Complaint: An audience member complained that he had not received a response to a complaint nor to a follow up letter complaining about the lack of response. The original complaint was about an aspect of the ABC NewsRadio program All Things Considered.

Complaint: An audience member questioned why the first episode of series three of Zoo Days was not broadcast. The audience member also pointed out that the online television guide incorrectly listed the narrator of the third series.

Complaint: Two listeners complained about reference in a promotion to “Easter Saturday”. The listeners pointed out that the day referred to in the promotion was actually “Holy Saturday” or “Easter Eve”.

Complaint: An audience member pointed out that online streams on ABC Radio National and triple j were labelled as Australian Eastern Standard Time when in fact they were being broadcast on Australian Eastern Daylight Time.

Complaint: An audience member complained about a segment in which a Breakfast presenter referred to an “amusing” picture of two body builders published on the program website. The audience member considered that the subjects of the picture were inappropriately made fun of.

Complaint: A contributor to the Unleashed site complained that another contributor’s pseudonym was racist. The complainant had alerted the site moderator and was concerned that the name still appeared on the site.

Complaint: An online reader complained that a report described remains discovered in a mass grave as “Nazi collaborators”. The online reader questioned the accuracy and the relevance of the description.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report on the National Health and Medical Research Council’s (NHMRC) latest guidelines on safe drinking levels. The viewer noted that a glass of wine used by a reporter to demonstrate the size of a standard drink appeared to contain more than a standard drink.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the introduction to a report in which it was stated “In an extraordinary display of unity... Northern Ireland's Protestant and Catholic leaders have promised to defeat hard-liners”. The viewer pointed out that the announcement was made by two political leaders not two religious leaders.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a newsreader incorrectly said “Maxima ranged from 25 in Mt Gambia to 33 degrees in Maitland.” The viewer pointed out that the temperature in Victor Harbour reached a maximum of 23 degrees on 25 February, as was correctly listed in a graphic.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a news bulletin which they felt contained content inappropriate for broadcast between children’s programs. The bulletin included footage of an incident in which a man survived a truck crash unscathed.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a report which raised concerns about the health of a former CEO of the Royal Hobart Hospital and his ability to undertake a new leadership role in Tasmania’s health system. The complainant felt that the report was inappropriate and insensitive.

Complaint: A viewer noted that a reporter referred to the Bank of Scotland during a story which featured images of the Royal Bank of Scotland. The viewer pointed out that the two banks are separate entities.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to references on Summer Breakfast and Hack to an internet-based company which provides surfing information. The complainant expressed concern that listeners were being directed to this company in favour of other companies which provide similar information.

Complaint: Several viewers expressed concern that the program presented the “Truby King” method of child-rearing which complainants argued was inhumane and effectively promoted abuse and neglect of newborn babies.

Complaint: A viewer questioned the accuracy of a weather report in which flooding was reported to have occurred due to heavy rainfall in the Cardwell area in north Queensland. The viewer pointed out that the flooding occurred in the Ingham area.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment during which a particular type of coffin was discussed. The listener felt that the segment was effectively an advertisement for the company that sold those coffins.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a report which covered arrests in Australia following the discovery of an international child pornography ring. The viewer expressed concern about the level of graphic detail provided in the story.

Complaint: An audience member questioned the accuracy of a finance report in which it was stated that Rio Tinto was to cease iron ore production in Western Australia. The audience member pointed out that the shutdown was only planned for two weeks over Christmas.

Complaint: A listener complained about the way in which the program had covered a protest about a water pipeline north of Melbourne, and subsequent arrests, during an interview with the project director for the pipeline.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a graphic used on the program to inform central and western time zone viewers that they receive the program in delay did not indicate that Queensland viewers also receive a delayed feed.

Complaint: An online reader complained about the headline “Two bushfires in north NSW”. The online reader pointed out that the bushfires, in Wyndham and Pambula, were located in the far south of New South Wales.

Complaint: A listener complained about a piece played on the program called 'I saw Macca' by comedians Lano and Woodley. The listener felt that it contained material and language inappropriate to the time of day it was broadcast.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment during which various commercial internet travel websites were discussed and recommended. The complainant felt that this unfairly favoured such booking agencies over traditional travel agents.

Complaint: A listener pointed out that a reporter incorrectly referred to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf during coverage of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s visit to Australian troops in the Middle East.

Complaint: A listener questioned the accuracy of a story in which it was reported that tens of thousands of buildings in Gaza had been levelled or would have to be bulldozed as a result of conflict in the region.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story which reported that a man was in hospital after “possibly being injected with venom” when cleaning a snake enclosure. The complainant pointed out that a loose fang had pierced the man’s finger and it was unlikely that he was injected with venom.

Complaint: A viewer pointed out that the exchange rate of the Australian dollar to the New Zealand dollar was incorrectly listed as $1.877 on 18 December and $1.826 on 19 December, when it should have been listed as $1.1883 and $1.1849 respectively.

Complaint: A viewer complained about an image used as part of an item about an announcement by Minister for the Environment Peter Garrett on a proposed pulp mill in the Tamar Valley in Tasmania. The viewer noted that the vision was of the interior of a saw mill but the story was about a pulp mill.

Complaint: A listener complained that a regular long range weather forecast segment is not introduced in such a way as to make clear that the forecaster is not a scientist. The complainant noted that the information is also available on the 891 ABC Adelaide Local Radio website without this context.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a discussion on the Religion Report about the life and work of Cardinal Alfonso Lopez Trujillo following his death. The complainant raised a number of concerns including that the segment contained inaccuracies and that it was a “character assassination” of the Cardinal.

Complaint: A listener complained about a story in which it was reported that the volume of water lost from a burst weir was equivalent to 6,000 Olympic swimming pools. The listener noted that the capacity of an Olympic swimming pool is generally 2.5 mega litres which would have put the volume of lost water at closer to 2,400 swimming pools.

Complaint: An audience member complained about coverage of a Victorian Ombudsman report into the conduct of a senior clinician at The Alfred Hospital. The audience member felt that the coverage represented an “attack” on the clinician.

A viewer challenged the accuracy of a statement in the program in which the presenter said “It was 1935. The United Australia Party - later to become the Liberal Party - held power under Robert Menzies”. The viewer pointed out that the United Australia Party held power under Joseph Lyons in 1935.

Complaint: An online reader complained about an image used to illustrate a story on a dog attack. The complainant felt that it was inappropriate to use an image of a specific breed of dog when the breed involved in the attack was unknown.

Complaint: An online reader complained about an article on the inauguration of United States President-elect Barack Obama, which stated: “The turnout for Mr Obama's swearing-in is expected to top the record 1.2 million that attended the inauguration of President Lyndon Johnson in 1965 following John F Kennedy's assassination”.

Complaint: A viewer complained about images used in a report on land fill contamination at the Boyne Island Smelter in Queensland. The viewer pointed out that the images were of the Queensland Alumina Refinery.

Complaint: An online reader challenged the accuracy of figures supplied in a story which reported concern by the Motor Traders Association that people were pocketing up to $12,000 of a $2,000 LPG conversion rebate.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a report on a draft Regional Plan for Far North Queensland. Both viewers felt that the report lacked balance and inaccurately stated that no community consultation on the plan had taken place.

2008

December

Complaint: An audience member complained about a story which reported moves by the International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem to form a coalition of Jews and Christians from around the world to have Iran's president charged with inciting genocide. The audience member felt that the report should have clarified that the group is the world's largest Christian Zionist organisation.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a report on the Federal Government’s lump sum payments to aged pensioners. In describing this generation of pensioners, a reporter stated that they had lived through the First World War after the Great Depression.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a story on the sentencing for sexual assault of a former priest. The report used images of a college at which the priest had worked. However, he was not working at the college at the time the offences for which he was charged were carried out.

Complaint: A listener complained about use of coarse language in an interview between the presenter and his guest in which the guest’s new book was discussed. The interview was the first of two on the subject.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story “Greece: losing their marbles” which reported efforts of Greek authorities to negotiate the return to Athens of Parthenon marbles held in the British Museum.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a report which stated that a senior public servant informed the Crime and Misconduct Commission that he knew documents he had prepared were a conflict of interest.

Complaint: In discussing his progress to date as a driver in the Bathurst motor race, a local community member was interviewed on Saturday Mornings and mentioned that his team’s car had been hit by a falling camera. He referred generically to the camera as a ‘flycam’.

Complaint: An audience member complained about the online transcript of the first episode of The Howard Years. The audience member pointed out that Ian McNiven was incorrectly identified as a National Party MP in the transcript.

Complaint: A listener complained about a report which stated that a Holden manufacturing plant in South Australia would close for three months. The listener noted that the plant was scheduled to close for three weeks.

November

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment on the life of South Australian suffragette Muriel Lilah Matters. In relating the story of Ms Matters gaining notoriety in 1908 by chaining herself to an iron grille in the ladies’ gallery of the House of Commons to protest women's suffrage rights, the presenter said “I guess it's important that she had more bang for her buck over there because she could say that she comes from South Australia where women had had the vote for some years”. The listener argued that this statement was not true for Indigenous South Australian women.

Complaint: An audience member pointed out an error in a story titled: “Bungled Lapthorne investigation sets back Croatia's EU ambitions”. The story reported that in 2005 British tourist Peter Rushton was murdered and that those responsible were never found. The audience member noted that two men were charged and convicted of the murder.

Complaint: Four separate complaints were received in relation to reports on ABC Online and Lateline that the RAND Corporation had stated that the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters being considered for purchase by the Australian Government were inferior to Russian and Chinese jets.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a story “Carpenter Government forced to defend corruption watchdog”. The story examined a case in which a senior public servant was charged with forgery by the Western Australian Corruption and Crime Commission.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a map used to illustrate a story on the discovery of a body in waters off Dubrovnik in Croatia. The viewer pointed out that the border between the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland was missing from the map.

Complaint: A Victorian listener complained about a News report in which an incident was described as having occurred “on the central coast of the state”. The listener noted that the incident happened in New South Wales.

Complaint: A viewer challenged the accuracy of a story in which it was stated that female locusts can lay up to one million eggs each. The viewer noted that the number they lay is dependent upon how long they live and is generally in the vicinity of 200 to 300 eggs.

Complaint: A complainant pointed out errors in coverage of the wheelchair basketball games of Australia versus Brazil on 7 September, Australia versus Great Britain on 8 September and Australia versus China on 9 September.

Complaint: An online reader complained about a report titled “Young men attack gay festival in Bosnia”. The complainant felt that the report contained inaccuracies and that it suggested the whole country was responsible for the attack.

Complaint: An online reader pointed to an error in a story in which an academic was reported to have stated that he had calculated a number of different ways Barack Obama could reach 210 electoral votes without winning Florida.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out that a story titled “AFP blame DPP over bungled Haneef case” contained inaccurate information. Specifically, the reader noted that the story incorrectly referred to the Queensland office of the Director of Public Prosecutions rather than the Brisbane office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Complaint: Two online readers challenged the accuracy of an ABC News Online story which reported that an “Air Force helicopter” had been forced to make an emergency landing after experiencing nose-wheel problems.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the introduction to a news bulletin in which a newsreader stated “The Federal Opposition Leader has tried to strengthen his own position by launching an attack on the Government over the single pension.” The viewer noted that this position was put forward by the Government.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment in which a presenter interviewed the president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, following predictions of an announcement of a major review of maternity services in Australia. The listener felt that the presenter implied that midwives were second choice carers in maternity services.

Complaint: A listener complained about a Hack report which was dedicated to the subject of bogans. After an interview with a creative director responsible for a range of bogan related fashion items, a website address from which the items could be purchased was provided.

Complaint: A viewer complained about the answer to a question featured on The Einstein Factor on 24 August 2008. The question which was the subject of the complaint was: "By the end of the series of novels, Bill Weasley and Fleur Delacour have three children, including a boy called what?" The contestant passed and the host advised that the answer was "Louis".

Complaint: A listener argued that a report misrepresented public opinion in that it implied all Australians desired success for the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games and similarly that all Chinese wanted the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to be successful.

Complaint: A listener complained about comments made by a 774 ABC Melbourne Drive traffic reporter. The listener felt that the reporter denigrated Chinese swimmers by suggesting they could generally be described as drug cheats given that some had been found guilty of drug use in the past.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment in which a manufacturer of “luxury” dog collars was interviewed. The interviewee provided information on the products including prices and a website from which they could be purchased.

Complaint: A listener complained that the report “Scientists unveil cheaper fuel cell alternative” contained inaccuracies. The report stated that hydrogen fuel cells are used to power hybrid vehicles; and that platinum in catalytic converters is used to trap carbon in exhaust.

Complaint: An online reader complained that an inaccurate image was used to accompany the story “Federal subsidy for McLaren irrigators”. The image depicted an overhead sprayer which the online reader pointed out was unlikely to be used in the McLaren Vale where irrigators generally use drip irrigation systems.

Complaint: A viewer noted inaccuracies in the second part of this two part documentary. On two occasions, the narrator incorrectly referred to ships in the Fourth British Squadron as battlecruisers; the narrator incorrectly described the Battle of Coronel as having “lasted only a few minutes”; and on two occasions, the narrator incorrectly referred to the HMS Kent as a battlecruiser.

September

Complaint: Two viewers challenged the accuracy of aspects of the Finance Report broadcast on 26 August. Both viewers noted that the presenter reported a 5 per cent drop in Wesfarmers share price without mentioning that this result was primarily because Wesfarmers had gone ex-dividend. One of the viewers also argued that the presenter implied that the performance of Rio Tinto had an impact on the relative strength of the Australian market. The viewer pointed out that the Rio Tinto results were released after the market had closed.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out that an image used to accompany the story “Hardware store badly damaged in suspicious fire” was unrelated to the event. The reader noted that the image was not current and that it depicted fire fighters from a town that would be unlikely to combat a fire in the Perth metropolitan region.

Complaint: A complaint was received about a story which referred to a coalition between the Liberal and National parties in discussion of a new government structure after the 2008 Western Australian state election. The complainant noted that a power sharing agreement was negotiated between the Liberal and National parties, rather than a coalition.

Complaint: A listener complained about a segment on a share release for a community owned wind farm project. At the conclusion of the segment, an interviewee provided details of the wind farm company website and asked listeners if they were interested in investing in the project.

Complaint: Two viewers noted inaccuracies in the first part of this two part documentary. The narrator inaccurately referred to the Russian light cruiser Zhemchug (or Jemtchug) and the light cruiser HMAS Sydney as battlecruisers rather than cruisers.

Complaint: Five viewers raised concerns about a segment on video game classification. The complainants expressed dissatisfaction with various aspects of the discussion, including comments made by the presenter that there was no ratings system for video games in Australia.

Complaint: A listener complained that a segment which referred to conflicts in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s lacked balance. The listener also felt that the correspondent passed judgement on former Serbian leader Radovan Karadzic.

Complaint: A complainant expressed concerns regarding a story about allegations made against a Catholic priest. The complainant questioned the accuracy of the story and argued that the priest should not have been named by Lateline.

Complaint: A viewer questioned the accuracy of a statement made by a presenter on the program. The presenter said “It was after the disastrous Battle of Culloden, when Scotland was finally defeated, the English banned the playing of the bagpipes and the wearing of the tartan for 55 years, on pain of death”.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out an inaccuracy in a report about the Reverend John Flynn which stated that he was founder of the world's first flying medical service, The Australian Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Complaint: A listener complained about a story on a speech by the ABC Managing Director to the National Press Club. In the story, a reporter stated that analogue television would be switched off in 2009.

Complaint: Two complaints were received regarding a television guide listing for the Queensland Open 2008 bowls semi final between Robert Baker and Leif Selby, broadcast on 30 August. Robert Baker was incorrectly listed as "Robert Baxter" in the guide.

Complaint: Four listeners complained about a report on a study into the intelligence of magpies. The listeners noted that the report referred to Australian magpies although the birds that were studied were European magpies which are a different species.

Complaint: An online reader pointed out that the program web site incorrectly stated “Only two actors have won an Oscar for Best Actor for performances in a Western, they were: Warner Baxter for his performance as the Cisco Kid in, ‘In Old Arizona’ (1929) and Gary Cooper for his role as Marshall Will Kane in ‘High Noon’ (1952)”.

Complaint: An audience member questioned the accuracy of a report titled ‘Nepali women break Everest barrier’. In the report, it was stated that “only seven Nepali women have ever reached the summit of the world's tallest mountain and all of them came from the Sherpa caste…” The audience member pointed out that one of the seven Nepali women to have reached the summit of Everest was originally from the Newari community.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about a story in which a reporter used the phrase "like a dog returning to its vomit" when noting the number of times former Prime Minister Paul Keating had been to see the musical Keating!

Complaint: A viewer questioned the relevance of an interview with Mr Douglas Feith who was the Undersecretary of Defence for Policy in the Bush administration, and author of a recent book dealing with events in the US since 9/11. The viewer considered that the inclusion of the interview gave credibility to Mr Feith’s views.

Complaint: Four separate complaints were received about several aspects of the report “Corby's dad linked to drug trade”. The complainants shared similar concerns and argued that the report inaccurately stated that the late Michael Corby was involved in the drug trade.

Complaint: Two complaints were received in relation to an online summary of a story “Local newsletter offline” broadcast on The Country Hour (SA). The complainants argued that the report, which examined the cessation of support for a local newsletter, was inaccurate.

Complaint: A listener pointed out that the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games were incorrectly referred to as “the 29th Olympic Games”. Although they were correctly described as “The Games of the 29th Olympiad”, the listener noted that they were only the 26th Olympic games.

Complaint: A viewer complained about an item concerning the collapse of some ice off the Perito Moreno glacier in Argentina. The newsworthy aspect of this story was that for the first time since records began, a large calving had occurred in the winter months. The viewer noted that the glacier calves ice regularly and argued that there is no evidence of the glacier retreating or showing any signs of the effect of global warming.

Complaint: The ABC received a complaint that both the 7pm News and Lateline included two factual inaccuracies regarding references to decisions made by the Classification Board. The complainant pointed out that the Classification Board classified the July edition of Art Monthly Australia Unrestricted with the consumer advice “M – not recommended for readers under 15 years”. However, the ABC had reported that the Classification Board cleared the magazine because there was a warning on the cover that it was not suitable for children under the age of 15. This warning was actually a requirement imposed by the Board after its review. The reports also stated that the Classification Board had cleared the most controversial of Bill Henson’s photographs which had been seized by police from a Sydney gallery. The complainant noted that the Board did not classify the photographs, rather, it classified website images which contained the photographs.

Complaint: A complaint was received about several aspects of the report “Educating Kimberly”. The program examined the crisis in education in remote communities such as the Tiwi Islands and asked whether boarding school is the answer for Indigenous high school education. Amongst other concerns, the complainant argued that the report was one-sided and contained factual inaccuracies.

Complaint: A listener challenged the accuracy of a story about the effect of rising sea levels on Pacific Islands. The listener argued that evidence suggests that the islands are sinking from tectonic movement and not from climate change, contrary to the presenter’s statement in the introduction to the report.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a reporter described comments made by footballer Sonny Bill Williams’ coach in discussing whether Williams might or might not have had a Muslim association as racial rather than religious.

August

Complaint: A listener lodged two complaints in relation to an interview with author Giles Milton. In discussing his book on the program, Milton put forward his opinion, based on his research, that the Turkish army was responsible for the great fires which destroyed much of Izmir in September 1922. The listener argued that Milton’s work did not represent “good history” and that the program should not have provided publicity for his book.

Complaint: The ABC received a complaint about an ABC News Online story titled "Developers call for town plan release". The complainant claimed that it misrepresented comments by the CEO of the Whitsunday Development Corporation.

Complaint: A listener complained that the Breakfast presenter made insensitive and patronising comments during discussion prompted by a newspaper article about a dwarf whose job it was to pour drinks into people’s mouths at a hotel.

Complaint: A listener complained about two separate segments on the Drive program. The first was in relation to coarse language used in an interview with chef Gordon Ramsay. The second was in relation to an interview with Qantas CEO Geoff Dixon, which the listener considered lacked balance.

Complaint: A listener complained about an audio clip used to introduce an interview with an activist who draws attention to human rights abuses in Egypt and who is recognised for using the internet to publish footage of Egyptian police torturing their suspects. The clip was of a woman being tortured, which was presented without prior warning to listeners.

Complaint: An audience member pointed out that two DVD sets “The Goodies - A Tasty Second Helping” and “The Goodies - 8 Delicious Episodes” were incorrectly labelled to indicate that they contained subtitles for the hearing impaired.

Complaint: A viewer complained that a warning was not provided prior to a story from an earthquake zone in China which showed a victim of the earthquake saying goodbye to his wife while he was trapped, and then his dead body being removed.

Complaint: A listener complained about a report on the strict observance of the Sabbath in Jerusalem. The listener considered the report both factually inaccurate and misleading. The reporter said that hotel lifts stopped at all floors on Saturdays, but the complainant pointed out that other lifts are available that operate normally so that people have a choice. The complainant also felt that the report gave an impression that Haredi Jews enforced the Sabbath all over Jerusalem.

Complaint: Three listeners complained about a Health Report story which covered a recent study on the use of naltrexone for opioid withdrawal and maintenance. The complainants shared similar concerns, namely that the story presented misinformation and offered a biased view against the use of naltrexone implants. All three complainants questioned the validity of the study which was the subject of the story. One of the complainants also argued that an interview with the mother of a man who died of a drug overdose contained inaccuracies.

Complaint: The ABC received two complaints about an ABC News Online story titled "Drug case tarnishes premier foot race: Athletic body". The report was on former Stawell Gift winner Nathan Allen's conviction for steroid importation and both audience members claimed that it misrepresented comments by the CEO of the Victorian Athletic League.

Complaint: A listener complained that a presenter wrongly introduced guest Simon Shaheen as “a musician from Palestine”. The listener pointed out that Shaheen was born in the village of Tarshiha, Upper Galilee, an Arab town in Israel and although he is a Palestinian, he is an Israeli citizen.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story on the shark fin industry which contained an image of a live shark having its fin cut off. The viewer found the vision distressing and considered that it should have been preceded by a warning.

Complaint: A complaint was received in relation to a story titled “Western Sahara activists target Australia”. The story reported on a campaign by activists from Western Sahara, seeking Australian support in their dispute with the Moroccan Government. The complainant claimed that the report contained inaccuracies about the historical background and the political and economic realities of the southern provinces of Morocco. Further, the complainant argued that the report was biased and that views of the Moroccan government should have been included in the report to provide balance.

Complaint: A viewer complained about a story on the Mercer 2008 Quality of Living Global City Rankings in which it was reported that there was a property explosion in Baghdad. The viewer felt that an accompanying image of an explosion was in poor taste.

Complaint: Two viewers complained about reports on the 7pm news and the Midday Report on the interpretation of US President George Bush's speech to the Israeli Knesset in which he criticised those who would negotiate with terrorists. The report stated that President Bush’s statements were directed at Democrat presidential candidate Barack Obama and that White House officials had confirmed this. Both viewers pointed out that Bush did not mention Obama’s name.

The ABC has grown remarkably since it launched on 1 July 1932. This is a snapshot of our achievements, programs and personalities and celebrates the ABC's contribution to Australian life for more than 80 years.